BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA patent applications published on November 30th, 2023

Summary of the patent applications from BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA on November 30th, 2023

BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA has recently filed several patents related to information management systems, image forming apparatus, printing devices, function executing devices, image processing methods, and developing cartridges. These patents aim to improve various aspects of these devices, including flexibility in image formation, power consumption optimization, authentication processes, data management, color gamut mapping, and consumable item management.

Summary: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA has filed patents for various devices and methods, including information management systems, image forming apparatus, printing devices, function executing devices, image processing methods, and developing cartridges. These patents aim to improve flexibility in image formation, power consumption optimization, authentication processes, data management, color gamut mapping, and consumable item management.

Notable Applications:

• An information management system that includes an information handling apparatus and an information management apparatus connected through a network.
• An image forming apparatus that allows for flexible image formation and adjustments based on user preferences or specific requirements.
• A printing apparatus that can print images on a print medium while moving the print head in a direction that intersects the conveyance direction.
• A function executing device that optimizes power consumption and range of advertising signals using a Bluetooth Low Energy scheme.
• An image forming device that allows or denies access to a web server based on authentication information.
• A data processing method for managing image processing devices using a server, including data transfer and settings information storage.
• A method for transferring a job to execute an image process from one image processing device to another, using identification information and job information.
• A printing device that executes different gamut mapping processes on image data based on the presence of specific colors in the image color gamut and printing color gamut.
• A developing cartridge for printing devices that includes a casing, a developing roller, a movable boss, and a movable lever.
• A printing apparatus that operates in a contract mode and executes a profit returning process based on the content of the contract when a non-contract consumable item is installed.

Patent applications for BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA on November 30th, 2023

CUTTING DEVICE INCLUDING FIRST BLADE EDGE PORTION, AND SECOND BLADE EDGE PORTION IN WHICH SHEARING ANGLE AT CENTER PORTION IS LARGER THAN SHEARING ANGLE AT END PORTIONS (18325414)

Main Inventor

Yushi KATO

LIQUID EJECTION DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID EJECTION DEVICE, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM (18324342)

Main Inventor

Shoji SATO

PRINTING APPARATUS (18323836)

Main Inventor

Atsushi MAEDA

LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD (18320240)

Main Inventor

KEITA SUGIURA

LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD (18320249)

Main Inventor

KEITA SUGIURA

PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING APPARATUS WITH CONSUMABLE ITEM (18325274)

Main Inventor

Masahiro HAYASHI

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (18326608)

Main Inventor

Masahiro HAYASHI

COLORIMETRY SYSTEM AND PRINTING DEVICE FOR MEASURING COLORS IN PRINTED MATTER (18324273)

Main Inventor

Shota MORIKAWA

RECORDING DEVICE (18325273)

Main Inventor

Satoru ARAKANE

PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR PRINTING APPARATUS (18324302)

Main Inventor

MASAHIRO NODA

PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR PRINTING APPARATUS (18324332)

Main Inventor

MASAHIRO NODA

PLATEN AND PRINTING DEVICE (18233960)

Main Inventor

Yutaka TAKAGIWA

IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS (18344132)

Main Inventor

Satoshi MIYASE

OPTICAL SENSOR (18311273)

Main Inventor

Mikio Inuzuka

Brief explanation

The patent application describes an optical sensor that can detect a sensing object.

• The sensor includes a plate-shaped substrate with a front surface, back surface, and a hole that goes through both surfaces.
• A light-emitting element is attached to the substrate and emits light.
• A first light-receptive element is fixed to the back surface of the substrate and receives reflected light from the sensing object.
• The first hole extends from where the first light-receptive element is fixed towards where the light-emitting element is fixed.

Abstract

An optical sensor configured to detect a sensing object includes a plate-shaped substrate, a light-emitting element, and a first light-receptive element. The plate-shaped substrate has a front surface, a back surface and a first hole piercing through the front surface and the back surface. The light-emitting element emits light and is fixed to the substrate. The first light-receptive element receives reflected light emitted from the light-emitting element, reflected off the sensing object and traveling into the first hole. The first light-receptive element is fixed to the back surface of the substrate. The first hole extends from a position at which the first light-receptive element is fixed toward a position at which the light-emitting element is fixed.

DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE (18447392)

Main Inventor

Nao Itabashi

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a developing cartridge used in printing devices.

• The cartridge includes a developing roller, a casing, and a developing electrode or member.
• The developing roller shaft is connected to the casing and contains a developer material.
• The developing electrode or member is electrically connected to the developing roller shaft.
• The developing electrode has a first end connected to the developing roller shaft and a second end located further away from the roller shaft.
• The second end of the electrode is positioned farther from one end of the casing compared to the first end.
• The developing electrode has a hole that extends between the first and second ends in a specific direction.

Abstract

A developing cartridge  may include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a casing capable of containing a developer material, and a developing electrode or a member configure to be electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The developing electrode or the member has a first end portion configured to be electrically connected to the developing roller shaft and a second end portion located farther away from the developing roller shaft than the first end portion. The second end portion is farther away in the second direction from the one end of the casing than the first end portion is from the one end of the casing. The developing electrode has a first hole extending in the second direction between the first end portion and the second end portion.

PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING APPARATUS WITH CONSUMABLE ITEM (18325266)

Main Inventor

Masahiro HAYASHI

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a printing apparatus that operates in a contract mode based on a contract regarding the consumable item used in printing.

• The printing apparatus includes an installing part for the consumable item, a printer for printing on a medium using the consumable item, and a controller.
• The controller executes a profit returning process when the installed consumable item corresponds to a non-contract mode and the printing apparatus is operated in the contract mode.
• The profit returning process involves returning profit according to the content of the contract.
• This innovation allows for efficient management of consumable items and ensures that the contract terms are followed, even when a non-contract consumable item is installed.

Abstract

There is provided a printing apparatus including: an installing part in which a consumable item to be used in printing is to be installed; a printer configured to print an image on a printing medium by using the consumable item installed in the installing part; and a controller. The printing apparatus is configured to operate in a contract mode based on content of a contract regarding the consumable item to be used in the printing. The controller is configured to execute a profit returning process of performing profit return according to the content of the contract in a case that the consumable item installed in the installing part has a type corresponding to a non-contract mode not based on the content of the contract and that the printing apparatus is operated in the contract mode.

DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE INCLUDING CASING, AND FIRST LEVER PIVOTALLY MOVABLE ABOUT SHAFT THEREOF RELATIVE TO CASING (18448418)

Main Inventor

Shuhei Hatano

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a developing cartridge used in printing devices.

• The cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a movable boss, and a movable lever.
• The lever has two ends, one for applying force and the other for bearing load, with a shaft as a fulcrum.
• The boss is fitted into a hole in the lever, allowing the lever to pivot when force is applied.
• The hole in the lever is larger in a direction perpendicular to the boss, allowing the boss to move within the hole when the casing moves relative to the lever.

Abstract

A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller extending in a first direction; a boss movable with the casing; and a first lever movable relative to the casing. The first lever includes: one end portion functioning as a point of effort; another end portion functioning as a point of load; a shaft functions as a fulcrum and positioned between the one end portion and the another end portion; and a first hole into which the boss is fitted. By the one end portion receiving a driving force, the first lever is pivotally movable about the shaft. A dimension of the first hole in a second direction crossing the first direction is greater than a dimension in the second direction of the boss. In a case where the casing moves in the second direction relative to the first lever, the boss moves in the second direction within the first hole.

PRINTING DEVICE, PRINTING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR DISPLAYING PREVIEW IMAGES CORRESPONDING TO RESULTS OF GAMUT MAPPING PROCESSES (18325634)

Main Inventor

Takashi KANZAKI

Brief explanation

- The patent application describes a printing device that includes a printing unit and a controller.

- The controller is responsible for acquiring image data and an image color gamut, which is a specific area of a predetermined color space occupied by color values in the image data. - The controller also receives information on a first color specified by a user and present in the image color gamut. - Based on whether the first color is present in a printing color gamut, which is a specific area of the predetermined color space occupied by color values printable by the printing unit, the controller executes different gamut mapping processes on the image data. - Prior to printing, the controller displays the first color and preview images corresponding to the results of the gamut mapping processes. - The user can select a preview image, and the printing unit prints an image corresponding to the selected preview image.

Abstract

A printing device includes a printing unit and a controller. The controller performs: acquiring image data; acquiring an image color gamut that is a specific area of a predetermined color space occupied by color values included in the image data; receiving information on a first color that is specified by a user and is present in the image color gamut; executing, on the basis of whether the first color is present in a printing color gamut that is a specific area of the predetermined color space occupied by color values of colors printable by the printing unit, different gamut mapping processes on the image data; displaying, prior to printing based on the image data, the first color and preview images corresponding to results of the gamut mapping processes; and printing, using the printing unit, an image corresponding to the preview image selected by the user among the displayed preview images.

PROCESSING METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING JOB TO EXECUTE IMAGE PROCESS BY CHANGING SUBJECT OF AGREEMENT FROM FIRST IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE TO SECOND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE (18325235)

Main Inventor

Tetsunori MORI

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a method for transferring a job to execute an image process from one image processing device to another.

• The method involves acquiring identification information for the second device from an external device.
• The acquired identification information and job information are stored in an external memory connected to the first device.
• When the external memory is connected to the second device, the identification information is checked to determine if it matches the second device.
• If the identification information matches, the second device executes the image process with the subject of agreement changed to the second device.

Abstract

A processing method is for transferring a job to execute an image process by changing a subject of an agreement from a first image processing device to a second image processing device. In the method, a first controller of the first device acquires identification information for the second device from an external device. The first controller stores, in the external memory connected to a first connector of the first device, the acquired identification information and job information specifying a job to perform an image process. Subsequently to connection of the external memory to a second connector of the second device, a second controller of the second device determines whether the identification information in the external memory matches identification information for the second device. When the identification information matches, the second controller executes the image process with the subject of agreement changed to the second device.

DATA PROCESSING METHOD FOR MANAGING FIRST IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND SECOND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE USING SERVER (18323189)

Main Inventor

Takatsugu YAMADA

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a data processing method for managing image processing devices using a server.

• The server receives a request to replace the first image processing device.
• The server acquires data from the first image processing device, including settings information, and stores it.
• The server communicates with the second image processing device, which is a replacement device.
• If a prescribed condition is satisfied, the server sends the data originally stored in the first image processing device to the second image processing device.
• The prescribed condition is that a prescribed function of the first image processing device has been deactivated based on the request received by the server.

Abstract

A data processing method is for managing first and second image processing devices using a server. In the method, the server receives a request to replace the first image processing device, acquires from the first image processing device data, and stores the acquired data as data originally stored in the first image processing device. The data originally stored in the first image processing device includes settings information. In the method, the server communicates with the second image processing device which is a replacement device. In a case that a prescribed condition is satisfied, the server sends the data originally stored in the first image processing device to the second image processing device. For satisfying the prescribed condition, satisfying a condition that a prescribed function of the first image processing device has been deactivated on the basis of the request received by the server is necessary.

IMAGE FORMING DEVICE TRANSMITTING DATA FOR DISPLAYING AUTHENTICATION CHANGING WEB PAGE (18310610)

Main Inventor

Yutaka URAKAWA

Brief explanation

The patent application describes an image forming device that determines whether to allow access to a web server based on authentication information.

• The device checks if the current authentication information matches the inputted authentication information.
• If the authentication is successful, the device can display a web page or an authentication changing web page.
• The authentication changing web page allows the user to enter new authentication information to issue a second instruction.
• Upon receiving the second instruction, the device updates the current authentication information in its memory using the new authentication information.

Abstract

The image forming device determines, on the basis of inputted authentication information and current authentication information, whether to permit use of the web server. In a case that the use of the web server has been permitted and the current authentication information has not matched an initial authentication information, the image forming device transmits, as a web server, data for displaying a web page. In a case that the use of the web server has been permitted and the current authentication information has matched the initial authentication information, the image forming device transmits data for displaying an authentication changing web page. The authentication changing web page is for receiving new authentication information to issue a second instruction. In response to receiving the second instruction, the device updates the current authentication information in the memory using the new authentication information according to the second instruction.

FUNCTION EXECUTING DEVICE AND TERMINAL DEVICE FOR EXECUTING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION ACCORDING TO BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (18450045)

Main Inventor

Hirotaka ASAKURA

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a function executing device that can repeatedly send an advertising signal using a Bluetooth Low Energy scheme.

• The device can change the radio field intensity used for sending the advertising signal based on a specific signal received from a terminal device.
• The device can establish a wireless connection with the terminal device after sending an advertising signal with the changed radio field intensity.
• The purpose of this innovation is to optimize the power consumption and range of the advertising signal.

Abstract

A function executing device may comprise a first wireless interface according to a Bluetooth Low Energy scheme being capable of repeatedly sending an advertising signal. The function executing device may after a first advertising signal in which a first radio field intensity is used has been sent from the first wireless interface, receive a specific signal via the first wireless interface from a terminal device, change a radio field intensity used for sending the advertising signal from the first radio field intensity to a second radio field intensity lower than the first radio field intensity, and after a second advertising signal in which the second radio field intensity is used has been sent from the first wireless interface, establish a first wireless connection with the terminal device via the first wireless interface.

PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING PROCESSING UNIT ATTACHED HAVING IDENTIFICATION SECTION FOR IDENTIFYING THE ATTACHED PROCESSING UNIT (18315061)

Main Inventor

Yasuo NISHIKAWA

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a printing apparatus that includes a conveyor, a print engine, and a processing device.

• The conveyor is used to move a print medium in a specific direction.
• The print engine consists of a print head and a platen that supports the print medium.
• The print engine can print images on the print medium while moving the print head in a direction that intersects the conveyance direction.
• The processing device is equipped with a processing unit that can be attached and detached.
• The processing unit is responsible for dividing the print medium into multiple media using a processing process.
• The processing unit has an identification section that can identify the type of processing process it can perform.

Abstract

A printing apparatus includes a conveyor, a print engine, and a processing device. The conveyor is configured to convey a print medium in a conveyance direction. The print engine includes a print head, and a platen configured to support the print medium conveyed by the conveyor. The print engine is configured to perform image printing on the print medium supported by the platen while moving the print head in a first direction intersecting the conveyance direction. The processing device has a processing unit removably attached thereto. The processing device is configured to perform a processing process to divide the print medium conveyed by the conveyor into a plurality of media. The processing unit has an identification section for identifying a type of the processing process executable by the processing unit.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS (18308139)

Main Inventor

Tomohiro TANAKA

Brief explanation

The patent application describes an image forming apparatus that can form images on a sheet-formed medium.

• The apparatus includes a medium storage, a medium conveyer, an image forming device, a user input interface, and a controller.
• The controller operates the image forming device and the medium conveyer to perform a first action, which forms an image on a sheet-formed medium in a specific area.
• The first action is performed from one side of the image in a lengthwise direction, corresponding to the predetermined conveying direction.
• If the first action is aborted, the controller performs a second action to form an image in a different area on the sheet-formed medium.
• The second action continues until a time point instructed by the user through the user input interface.
• The user input interface allows the user to control the timing and location of image formation on the medium.
• This innovation provides flexibility in image formation and allows for adjustments based on user preferences or specific requirements.

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, having a medium storage, a medium conveyer, an image forming device, a user input interface, and a controller, is provided. The controller operates the image forming device and the medium conveyer to perform a first action to form an image composed of image data in an area on a sheet-formed medium from one side of the image in a lengthwise direction, which corresponds to the predetermined conveying direction. On a condition where the first action is aborted, the controller operates the image forming device and the medium conveyer to perform a second action to form an image composed of the image data in another area on the sheet-formed medium different from the area in which the image was formed in the first action until a time point instructed by input from a user accepted through the user input interface.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PRINTING APPARATUS (18326614)

Main Inventor

Naoya OKAZAKI

Brief explanation

The patent application describes an information management system that includes an information handling apparatus and an information management apparatus connected through a network.

• The information handling apparatus performs an identification information obtaining process and an identification information sending process.
• The information management apparatus performs an identification information receiving process, recipient associating process, collection information obtaining process, privilege information generating process, recipient determining process, and privilege information granting process.

Abstract

An information management system includes: an information handling apparatus; and an information management apparatus which communicates with the information handling apparatus via a network. The information handling apparatus executes: an identification information obtaining process; and an identification information sending process. The information management apparatus executes: an identification information receiving process; a recipient associating process; a collection information obtaining process; a privilege information generating process; a recipient determining process; and a privilege information granting process.